Geothermal Energy Council Bluffs IA

Local resource for geothermal energy in Council Bluffs, IA. Includes detailed information on local businesses that provide access to hot underground steam, heat of Earth, Earth's crust, and shallow depths as well as advice and content on geothermal heat pumps and low energy costs.

Benefits Of Geothermal

Those within the industry claim that converting from oil or electricity to geothermal will cut heating costs by as much as 70 percent.

Surveys of geothermal industry buyers show a 95 percent satisfaction rate. Over the long term, the savings only get better.

The US Department of Energy also lists these benefits of geothermal heating systems:

Cost Effective

On average, a geothermal heat pump system costs about $2,500 per ton of capacity, or roughly $7,500 for a 3-ton unit (typical residential size). In comparison, other systems would cost about $4,000 with air conditioning. When included in the mortgage, the homeowner has a positive cash flow from the beginning. For example, the extra $3,500 might add $30 per month to a monthly mortgage payment. The energy cost savings will easily exceed this added amount over the course of the year.

On a retrofit, geothermal energy's high efficiency typically means much lower utility bills, allowing the investment to be recouped in two to ten years. In addition, some utility companies have financing packages that make the purchase of a geothermal system even less expensive. Still others provide special rates for homes with geothermal systems.

Durability

Because they use fewer mechanical components, and because those components are sheltered from the elements, leaves, dirt, and possible vandalism, geothermal heat pumps are durable and highly reliable. The underground piping used in the system often has 25- to 50- year warranties, and geothermal heat pumps typically last 20 years or more.

Low Maintenance

Geothermal heat pump systems have fewer maintenance requirements than most other systems. When properly installed, the underground components are virtually worry-free. The components in the living space are easily accessible, which increases the convenience factor and helps ensure that the upkeep is done on a timely basis.

Geothermal Energy

What is geothermal?

Geothermal energy is heat energy from the earth. Up until a few years ago, the use of geothermal energy was thought to be restricted to very small areas, where there were geysers or volcanic activity. This was confined to a few places like Iceland or around the Pacific Ocean (called the Ring of Fire). Geothermal energy is thought of very differently, now, and is considered by many as one of the most promising forms of renewable energy. It is actually a form of solar energy trapped in the earth and available everywhere.

How does geothermal energy work?

Geothermal energy works on the simple idea that the ground below the surface of the earth remains a relatively constant temperature. In some areas, this may even be an ideal temperature somewhere between 57 and 65 Fahrenheit. This free heating and cooling energy is tapped by technology called ground source heat pumps used to warm buildings in winter and cool them in summer.

Ground source heat pumps tap this geothermal energy using a system of underground piping. These pipes hold water or glycol (a kind of alcohol that is ideal for this purpose) and the heat is then transferred to the inside of the building through a process called heat exchange.

Why should we use geothermal energy?

Geothermal systems greatly reduce the need for any other form of energy. Since they draw heat or cooling from a source that has a stabilized temperature, people save as much as 70 or 80 percent of their heat...

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